Rolex world No. 1 Jin Young Ko returns to the LPGA this week looking to continue her march toward sweeping all the tour’s major awards.

She will tee it up in Thursday’s start of the Buick Shanghai, the beginning of the tour’s fall Asian swing.

The LPGA will go from China to South Korea, Taiwan and Japan before taking a week off before the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla.

“I’ll try my best and show good finishes to all the golf fans,” Ko said.

Ko’s four LPGA titles this year include two major championships (the ANA Inspiration and Evian Championship). They have helped her build substantial leads in the races for the Rolex Player of the Year Award, Vare Trophy (scoring average) and money-winning title. She has already clinched the Rolex Annika Major Award for the best overall performance in the majors this season.

Ariya Jutanugarn swept all four of those awards a year ago.

Ko’s 68.851 scoring average gives her a chance to join Annika Sorenstam as the only players in LPGA history to average better than 69 strokes for an entire season. Sorenstam did it twice. She holds the all-time mark at 68.696, setting it in 2004, though she came up just short of having enough starts to be eligible to win the Vare Trophy that year. She also averaged 69.697 in 2002, winning one of her six Vare trophies.

Though Ko hasn’t played an LPGA event since the Cambia Portland Classic six weeks ago, she’s amid a busy fall schedule. She played in Korean LPGA events the last two weeks, winning a KLPGA major last weekend for her fifth worldwide title this year. Now, she’s committed to a run of three consecutive LPGA starts.

“A little tired,” Ko said when asked about her energy level coming off last weekend’s KLPGA major championship victory. “The difference in score seems to be how well you use your concentration on the course. It's not easy, but I'll try to manage well, both my physical and mental health, before the tournament, so I can use my concentration effectively.”

Here’s how the major award races shape up:

Rolex Player of the Year points race:

1. Jin Young Ko, 237

2.  Jeongeun Lee6, 123

3. Sung Hyun Park, 117

- A victory is worth 30 points in each of the final five events this season.

Vare Trophy (scoring average):

1. Jin Young Ko, 68.851

2. Hyo Joo Kim, 69.246

3. Sung Hyun Park, 69.493

Money winning list:

1. Jin Young Ko, $2,632,412

2. Jeongeun Lee6, $1,913,357

3. Sung Hyun Park, $1,500,237

Sourav Ganguly, who will take charge as BCCI's next president on October 23, has said that resumption of bilateral cricket with Pakistan is subject to the permission of the Indian government. Ganguly said that the decision could only be taken by the prime ministers of the two countries: Narendra Modi and Imran Khan, who also happens to be the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

"You have to ask that question to Modi ji and the Pakistan Prime Minister," Ganguly said at a media briefing in Kolkata on Tuesday. "Of course we have (to take permission), because international exposure (tours) is all through governments. So we don't have an answer to that question."

Ganguly had led India on the historic tour of Pakistan in 2004, the first bilateral series since the Kargil war in 1999 and India's first visit to Pakistan since 1989.

The last time both neighbours featured in a bilateral series was in late 2012, when India hosted Pakistan for a limited-overs series comprising two T20Is and three ODIs.

In February, the BCCI asked the ICC in an e-mail letter "to sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates". That letter was sent at the behest of the three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), which was appointed as the supervisory authority of the board till fresh elections were held. The previous day the CoA had mulled over asking the ICC to boycott Pakistan from the World Cup.

At the time the BCCI and CoA were reacting to the terror strikes in Pulwama in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in which more than 40 paramilitary troops were killed.

James Pamment, the 51-year-old former Auckland batsman, has taken the role of USA head coach on an interim basis through to the end of 2019. This comes after the contracts of USA director of cricket Kiran More and a string of other assistant coaches were not renewed following an initial three-month period. Pamment's appointment had been rumoured since the start of the month but has since been confirmed to ESPNcricinfo by multiple USA Cricket sources.

More had been appointed in July by USA Cricket to oversee their quest to qualify for the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia, serving as a "senior operations consultant" according to a USA Cricket press release. But his arrival sparked a power struggle with USA head coach Pubudu Dassanayake, who had been in place since September 2016 and had led USA to ODI status in April at WCL Division Two. After mounting tension at a USA squad camp at Los Angeles in June, Dassanayake resigned, citing a "loss of freedom" in selection decisions.

More did not to travel with the USA squad to Bermuda in August for the Americas Regional Final for the T20 World Cup Qualifier. Sunil Joshi was notified by email after the team arrived on tour that he would be the stand-in head coach in More's place. Though USA headed into the four-team event as favourites after winning the sub-regional qualifier over Canada in North Carolina in September 2018, the team finished third after losing all four of their matches to Canada and Bermuda, who wound up advancing instead of USA to the T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE.

A tentative plan had been discussed to extend More's consultant contract through to the 2020 T20 World Cup had USA qualified, but once they failed in Bermuda, that became a non-starter. He oversaw USA's ODI tri-series performances in Florida last month, where they went 3-1 in their opening round of Cricket World Cup League Two matches against Namibia and Papua New Guinea. Those were his last matches in charge. David Saker had left as fast bowling consultant coach to go back to Australia immediately after the Bermuda tour while batting consultant coaches Pravin Amre and Kieran Powell were not present in Bermuda nor Florida.

Pamment had initially been contracted as fielding coach for USA when More came on board. However, he has been asked to remain to help oversee a transition period for USA's next two tours - the CWI Super50 in Trinidad next month and a CWC League Two ODI tri-series against UAE and Scotland in Dubai in December - until a full-time appointment can be made in January 2020. Pamment is not expected to apply for the full-time role because, like More, he has a multi-year contract with Mumbai Indians in the IPL, having replaced Jonty Rhodes as their fielding coach in 2018.

USA Cricket is seeking a full-time commitment after the failed strategy of hiring short-term consultants to replace Dassanayake for T20 World Cup Qualifier.

Originally from Yorkshire, Pamment migrated to New Zealand early in his career and played 14 first-class and 33 List A games from 1993 to 1996. Aside from his stint with Mumbai Indians in the IPL, Pamment previously coached Northern Districts in New Zealand from 2013 to 2017.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was far from pleased when he was told that Ryan Tannehill would be the starting quarterback against the Chargers.

He accepted responsibility for the result but made it clear the current setback doesn't mean his career is over.

"Until the day that I die, I'm going to believe I gave it all I got. No matter what, I can learn and grow from this situation. This isn't going to bring me down. This isn't going to end my career," Mariota said. "I had an opportunity to play but I didn't make the most of it. I am going to learn and grow from it."

While it is likely that his time with the Titans will come to an end after this season, there are still 10 games left. Coach Mike Vrabel said he wouldn't rule anything out regarding Mariota, stressing that his decision to start Tannehill is for this week. Vrabel added that Mariota, 25, will be needed in some form at some point.

The decision to start Tannehill, 31, is a turnaround from the beginning of the season when the Titans placed emphasis on Mariota being the starter to quiet any noise about a quarterback controversy. Now the team finds itself in the middle of one after posting a 2-4 record and scoring one touchdown in the past two games.

If the time comes when Mariota is called on to go back under center, he vows to make the most of it.

"You have to be ready at any point in time. No matter what, I will prepare just as I have and I'll be ready to go," Mariota said.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Jalen Ramsey says he's "overjoyed" to have been traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Los Angeles Rams.

"Big, big day for me," Ramsey told Uninterrupted's '17 Weeks' Podcast on SiriusXM. "I'm currently just walking outside right now, I'm filled with joy, I'm overjoyed right now. God is the greatest, God makes no mistakes at all. No mistakes at all. I've been so blessed."

On Tuesday, the Rams sent their 2020 and 2021 first-round draft picks, as well as a 2021 fourth-round pick, to the Jaguars in exchange for the two-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro cornerback, who was selected fifth overall by the Jaguars in 2016.

"I was so blessed to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars," Ramsey said, adding, "But now I've got a new chapter starting in my life, going out to LA and going to be a part of the LA Rams."

Ramsey requested to be traded from the Jaguars following a Week 2 loss to the Houston Texans, after Ramsey was scolded by Jaguars vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin for engaging in a sideline shouting match with Jaguars coach Doug Marrone.

Ramsey has been inactive the past three games, citing a back issue, and causing him to snap a streak of 51 consecutive starts that dated to when the Jaguars selected him in 2016.

However, Ramsey is expected to pass his physical Wednesday with the Rams and could be available as soon as Sunday against the 1-5 Atlanta Falcons.

He joins a secondary in flux and a defense that has allowed the second-highest Total QBR (81.6) during a 3-3 run.

Rams cornerback Aqib Talib and safety John Johnson have been placed on injured reserve, and before trading for Ramsey, the Rams sent cornerback Marcus Peters to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for linebacker Kenny Young and a 2020 fifth-round draft pick.

"Excited to be a part of that defense," said Ramsey, who, in 51 starts, has nine interceptions and 45 pass breakups. "Coach Wade Phillips, coach Sean McVay, coach Aubrey Pleasant, and I'm excited to get out there and do my thing for the LA Rams and show them that they've got the best corner in the whole NFL for years and years to come."

Ramsey remains on his rookie contract, which is scheduled to pay him $13.7 million in 2020, and the Rams intend to eventually sign him to a long-term extension.

With the Rams, Ramsey reunites with former Jaguars teammates Blake Bortles and Dante Fowler Jr.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The NFL is not sending the tanking problem to a think tank.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is enjoying peak competitiveness, despite five teams winning one game or fewer through the first six weeks of the season.

"I don't think the league has ever been more competitive than it is today," said Goodell from the NFL fall meetings at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale. "You see that in teams going from last to first in dramatic fashion. I think that's unique to the National Football League.

"... For us, the competitiveness of our game is obviously critical. I don't think that is solved with a [draft] lottery, I think that is solved by all the issues we try to deal with on a regular basis through the competition committee and the league in trying to make sure our league is competitive."

The concept of tanking has gained traction with teams such as the Cleveland Browns (one win from 2016 to '17) and the Miami Dolphins (0-6) trading several prime assets in exchange for draft capital and long-term hope.

The Cincinnati Bengals (0-6) and Washington Redskins (1-5) face major rebuilding efforts over the next few years.

But games are still close leaguewide. Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, who's a leader on the competition committee, said 51 games have been decided by seven or fewer points, the most in NFL history during the same span.

The San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers combined for a 10-21 record a year ago; they sit atop their divisions at 5-0 and 5-1, respectively.

"We've got a lot of good trends from a numbers standpoint," McKay said.

As bad teams position themselves for a No. 1 pick to get a top quarterback, the league won't be changing its draft format to a lottery any time soon.

"From our standpoint, we find a draft to be successful on many fronts," Goodell said. "One, the competitive side. But also the event itself has grown dramatically. It's not under active consideration. It hasn't been raised by either the committees or the clubs at this stage."

In other NFL news, owners discussed a 17-game season as part of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. Though Steelers president Art Rooney II said he'll keep details at the table, he pointed out that he's old enough to remember 12-game seasons.

"You have to adjust and do what's best for the game," Rooney said.

A 17-game season would still begin the weekend after Labor Day but would go one week longer.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis has been cleared and will play in Wednesday's preseason game against the Warriors, according to coach Frank Vogel.

Davis had suffered a sprained right thumb during a preseason game Saturday in Shenzhen, China.

An MRI on Davis' thumb came back clean Monday, the team announced.

Davis suffered the injury swatting at the ball midway through the first quarter. He started at center as the Lakers employed a small-ball lineup, surrounding him with LeBron James, Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley and Danny Green.

Davis initially stayed in the game, getting the thumb taped during a break in the action, but then he retreated to the locker room between the first and second quarters, and an ice pack was taped to his right hand.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — The Indianapolis 500 has gone to the dogs — literally.

When team owner Roger Penske was celebrating his record-extending 18th Indianapolis 500 win on May 26, he quickly discovered Simon Pagenaud’s dog, Norman, was in victory lane.

Norman is the prized Jack Russell Terrier that belongs to Pagenaud and his fiancée, Hailey McDermott. Norman has become so popular in the NTT IndyCar Series that he has his own Twitter account — @NormanPagenaud.

When Pagenaud collected his Baby Borg trophy that he gets to keep for winning the 103rd Indianapolis 500 at the Team Penske employee breakfast on Sept. 9, there were two images on the base of the trophy.

One is the sterling silver image of Pagenaud that was unveiled on the permanent Borg-Warner Trophy in Paris on Aug. 5.

The other face alongside Pagenaud’s on the Baby Borg was that of his constant companion and his friend for life — Norman.

“Seventeen times I never saw a dog in the winner’s circle,” Penske said. “For the 18th time, we should recognize that. Will Behrends, the sculptor of the Borg-Warner Trophy, was motivated to make this extra special dog face for Simon as we went forward.

“No one in the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has won the road race, the Indianapolis 500 pole and the race in the same two-week span. Simon will go down in the history book for that, for sure.”

Norman was in victory lane to lick some of the milk off Pagenaud’s face following the traditional milk bath.

“Today, they surprised me with my likeness and Norman’s likeness, and that is such a great and incredible gesture from BorgWarner,” Pagenaud said. “It’s the first time Will Behrends has sculpted a dog, and he did a phenomenal job.

“It’s an incredible gift I will keep forever and remind me of the most incredible day of my life,” he continued. “It’s great for Hailey and me to have these kinds of memories because Norman was part of this incredible day in our lives. It was the most incredible day of our lives and he will be part of our memories forever.”

BorgWarner made a $20,000 donation to IndyHumane, the Humane Society of Indianapolis, to help shelter dogs and help families adopt those dogs.

The donation was made in Pagenaud’s name in recognition of his Indianapolis 500 win. IndyHumane has been a favorite charity of Pagenaud’s for a number of years, beginning when he lived in the Indianapolis area.

Pagenaud fostered a dog for IndyHumane during the month of May in 2014. He has also participated in the group’s signature fundraising event — Mutt Strut.

IndyHumane has served Indianapolis and the surrounding counties since 1905, providing vital services to animals through sheltering and adoption, positive reinforcement behavior training for shelter animals and outreach through community and shelter programs.

“I’ve been very close to animals my whole life,” Pagenaud said. “I’ve had dogs since I was a little kid and I’ve been raised around dogs. I have an affection to animals. Personally, this was a big surprise I wasn’t expecting. It was an overwhelming moment.

“It just shows the impact that having Norman next to me has on the industry of racing. I’m glad to see that my dog is becoming immortal, so that is pretty cool.”

Pagenaud has posed with the Borg-Warner Trophy in victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the trophy accompanied him to the White House when the team was honored by President Donald Trump on June 10 and it also went with him during a visit to his native France.

The Borg-Warner Trophy has returned to its permanent home at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The Baby Borg, however, will remain with Pagenaud.

“Getting the Baby Borg trophy was overwhelming in terms of emotion, especially here at the Team Penske employee breakfast,” Pagenaud said. “Five-hundred-and-fifty Team Penske employees were here, enjoying the moment with me making it even more special.

“Incredible things have happened for me by taking the ‘Daddy Borg’ to France, being able to share that with my home country and educate about Indy car racing was incredible,” he added. “I don’t think it’s over; it’s just the beginning. It’s phenomenal to see BorgWarner’s support for the Indianapolis 500 winner is outstanding. They keep giving you gifts and making you feel special.”

The Borg-Warner Trophy was created in 1936 as a symbol of technology and innovation in racing. As the oldest, most famous trophy tradition, the Borg-Warner Trophy is the most sought-after motorsports prize.

“That’s another amazing gesture of BorgWarner to allow the winner to have a memory of it,” Pagenaud said. “It’s a beautiful piece and with the base it goes well together. It’s going to be dead center in the middle of all of my other trophies.”